Canadians must rediscover the need to link government spending with revenues
The rapid expansion of government in Canada over the past decade produced an unintended experiment in the role of the state in our lives. The pandemic in particular liberated governments to expand programs, spending and interventions in a manner unprecedented outside of wartime. As Canadians get a front-row look at life in a society defined…
Political expediency once again trumps the realities of fixing health care
Canada’s health-care system continues to implode and fail Canadian patients at a catastrophic level. Systemic problems and staffing issues are overwhelming health care delivery, and people are dying from a lack of proper care. Daily news reports now relate the most egregious dysfunctions as patients sought help and instead found themselves in a chaotic system…
Canada can become a major supplier of natural gas to allies and trading partners in Asia and Europe
You could call Canadian natural gas the global energy security solution that’s waiting to happen. It’s entirely within Canada’s grasp to elevate natural gas production and export, assist our allies and trading partners, and help stabilize global energy markets – all without compromising emissions reduction goals. Until recently, a constrained North American energy market with…
Sue Big Oil project illustrates how disconnected Canada’s West Coast climate industry is from the real world
Due to a series of unfortunate events, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, there is a world shortage of affordable food and energy. How and when this will end is unknown. Everyone is affected. Those who suffer the most historically live in developing countries. But today, it is affecting nations previously thought to be…
We are fortunate to live in a part of the world where our four seasons are distinct
Autumn is a time of reflection. I love the fall as it is both a time of awe-inspiring colours and a foreboding of winter soon to come … but the former somehow overshadows the latter for me. We are fortunate to live in a part of the world where our four seasons are distinct and…
Exporting actual food products may no longer be the best option moving forward
It’s tomato season, and Canadians love their tomatoes. It is by far the most popular vegetable at the grocery store. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the average Canadian consumes at least six to seven kilos of tomatoes per year. More than 12 kilos per capita of fresh and processed tomatoes are made available to…
Governments must begin to address their own roles in keeping housing prices high
The recent rise in interest rates has dampened demand for home sales in Canada. The hike, inevitable given how historically low rates have been, has taken some of the froth off housing prices. However, given how high home prices still are in Canada, a useful question to ask is what governments can do to reverse…
Enbridge investment builds on momentum following April milestone of notice to proceed
The outlook for Canada’s extra-low emissions Woodfibre LNG project just got even stronger. A new $1.5 billion investment by Enbridge builds on momentum following the April milestone of notice to proceed being issued to the project’s main contractor. “Woodfibre is now essentially assured to go ahead with the recent announcement,” says Thomas Liles, vice-president with…
He would be a tremendous asset to the city and a great public servant
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, a former Liberal MPP and cabinet minister, announced last December that he wouldn’t be running for re-election. Several candidates announced their intentions to replace him, including former Ottawa mayor Bob Chiarelli (also a former Liberal MPP and cabinet minister) and Catherine McKenney, an Ottawa city councillor and former NDP staffer for…
Regulatory bodies should stick to their core purpose and stay out of politics
The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) serves as the regulatory body for public school teachers in Ontario. When a complaint comes in, the OCT is obligated to investigate and, if the teacher is found guilty, decide on an appropriate consequence. By investigating complaints against teachers in that province, regulatory bodies such as the OCT play…